A big year for Boeing

By AUBREY COHEN, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

Updated 11:37 am, Thursday, January 5, 2012

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It's been a big year in aerospace and particularly for Boeing, which finally delivered two long-delayed airplanes, launched a program to overhaul another airliner, won a huge, hard-fought military contract, found itself in the middle of a labor fight, settled that fight, and continued its role in an international dispute over subsidies. Read on for a recap.

It's been a big year in aerospace and particularly for Boeing, which finally delivered two long-delayed airplanes, launched a program to overhaul another airliner, won a huge, hard-fought military contract,

The U.S. maintains that Europe is still illegally subsidizing the new composite-panel A350 XWB airplane, which wasn't covered directly by the ruling because the case was filed before countries provided financing for the prorgam. The A350 competes against Boeing's 777 and composite 787 Dremliner. Airbus made progress with the program this year, including starting to join the first forward fuselage section on Dec. 9, 2011. But the company also delayed expected delivery of the first A350 to the first half of 2014, up to a year after oringally planned and six months after the previous schedule. And potential customers for the A350-1000, whcih is the largest variant and most-direct competitor to Boeing's 777, criticized the airplane.

The U.S. maintains that Europe is still illegally subsidizing the new composite-panel A350 XWB airplane, which wasn't covered directly by the ruling because the case was filed before countries provided

Boeing executives said for months that they were leaning toward skipping re-engining of the 737 (which competes against the A320) in favor of launching a replacement aircraft that would enter service in 21019 or 2020. But that changed as Airbus piled up commitments the A320neo and was poised to snag a huge order from all-Boeing American Airlines. Boeing hastily offered American a re-engined 737, subject to board approval, in August, to win a share of American's order. The company formally launched the re-engined 737 MAX later that month.

Boeing executives said for months that they were leaning toward skipping re-engining of the 737 (which competes against the A320) in favor of launching a replacement aircraft that would enter service in 21019

The National Labor Relations Board sparked a political firefight in April, when, in response to a complaint from the Boeing Machinists union, it charged that Boeing illegally put the second 787 Dreamliner assembly line in South Carolina in retaliation for strikes in Washington and should be required to open the line in the Northwest. The biggest factor in Boeing's decision to put the line in South Carolina was its failure to reach a long-term no-strike deal with the Machinists.

Seattle's Museum of Flight, meanwhile, unveiled its new Charles Simonyi Space Gallery in December. The museum had hoped to make one of the retiring space shuttle orbiters the center of the gallery, but had to settle for full-fuselage trainer from Houston's Johnson Space Center. Simonyi, a tech billionaire who donated $3 million to the gallery, also announced a long-term loan of the Russian Soyuz capsule he rode in his return from one of his two trips to space.

Speaking of space, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen just announced Stratolaunch -- a system that aims to launch rockets after lifting them into the atmosphere using the largest plane ever built.

Speaking of space, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen just announced Stratolaunch -- a system that aims to launch rockets after lifting them into the atmosphere using the largest plane ever built.

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Boeing delivered the first 747-8 Freighter to launch customer Cargolux on Oct. 12, two years later than originally planned. The delivery suffered one final delay in September, when Cargolux shareholder Qatar Airways raised concerns about engine performance, leading the airline to call off delivery three days before it was scheduled to happen.

Boeing delivered the first 747-8 Freighter to launch customer Cargolux on Oct. 12, two years later than originally planned. The delivery suffered one final delay in September, when Cargolux shareholder Qatar